146 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



(01 



De Candolle remarks that it 



approaches Sapotacew on the one side, in the position of the stamens and form of the fruit, 

 ami Okacece on the other, through the genera having two pendulous ovules. Its nearest 

 affinity, however, as long ago indicated by Brongniart, is clearly^ with the Hollies (Ilicineoe), 

 into which they almost pass, the distinguishing characters being of only secondary value. 

 Lindley considers that their nearest affinity is with Ilicinecs on the one hand, and Apocynacecs 

 on the other. This last relationship I find myself unable to trace, but see little difficulty 

 in the other; they seem indeed to pass by an easy gradation through Jlicineas into 

 Oleacece; but to my mind the relationship between EbenacecB and SapotacecB is not so 

 close though evident enough, neither can I quite agree with Endlicher in thinking that 

 there is scarcely any difference between them and StyracacecB except the difference in 

 the Insertion of the corolla. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical Asia and the Cape of Good Hope, seem to 

 be the two principal centres of this family, but many are also natives of the Mauritius and 

 Madagascar, also several of New Holland and South America. One is found in Europe and 

 another in Virginia. From this it appears that the family is in a great degree tropical in 



its habits. 



Properties and Uses. Under this head there is little scope for remark. Among the 

 Indian species none are mentioned as possessed of medicinal properties. The wood of all 

 ]« esteemed for its extreme hardness and durability, In many it is nearly quite black, of which 

 the Ebony is a well known example ; that of Diospyros montana is varigated with black 

 and white veins. The fruit of D. glutinosa is distinguished for having a glutinous astringent 

 juice, which the natives of Bengal use for paying the bottoms of boats and dressing their 

 fishing nets, to preserve them from the effects of the water. The fruit of Maha huxifoUa 

 are edible— the taste is sweetish and not unpalatable, but scarcely worth the trouble of eating, 

 the seed being so large in proportion to the pulpy portion. 



L 



■Remarks on Geneea and Species. The genera of this order are few in proportion to the 

 species and so far as the Indian members of the family are concerned of easy discrimination. 



3d with two of the 8 genera, and analvses of both will be found 



in Plate 148-6. Diospyr 

 in conformity. Maha has 



Diospyros the 

 Monograph 



with the proportion of parts 



recently added a second from the Neilgherries, the analysis of which, male and female, is 

 given. Regarding the species of Diospyros I cannot venture to offer any remarks, as in 



ti uth I do not understand them, and my collection is not sufficiently perfect to admit of 

 my attempting any improvement on the skilful labours of Alph. De Candolle, who seems 

 Ltjl. ft°r. T T^ ^" ^^'^'' elucidation ; but the genus is truly a difficult one, 



d^T^w^th onlv S '^•*^' .??'' ^"'. "^^'^ ^^^-^^"^^ it incumbent on the Botanist to 

 deal with onlv half a «n...P« The species selected for the illustration of the genus is, ' 



I 



e and^description 



believe coaecEjy named as it seems perfeaf; t;c;„e:p;- d '^iVro hefigur 



H#^V 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 

 Diospyros cordifolia, fiowmng Iranckes i 



1. Male. 2. Female. 



